October 2026

CCLA Hosts 2nd Annual Candid Conversations: Leadership, Empowerment

and The Future of Women in the Law

Dear Friends,

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month—an important reminder that safety, stability, and emotional well-being are deeply connected.


At Coast to Coast Legal Aid, we know that behind every legal matter is a person who may be frightened, isolated, overwhelmed, or simply trying to find a way forward.

For a survivor of domestic violence, finding safety is more than their abuser being arrested. Securing an injunction for protection, a safe home, protecting a child, and gaining financial autonomy is their path to independence. For someone struggling with mental health challenges, a legal crisis can make an already difficult journey feel insurmountable.

This is where our work matters.

Every day, our attorneys and advocates show up for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We work vigorously to remove the legal barriers that stand between our clients and the safety, stability, and dignity they deserve.

At CCLA we have always believed that access to justice is about giving people the opportunity to reclaim their lives.

This month, let’s remember that healing and justice are deeply connected—and that sometimes, having someone stand beside you is the first step toward a safer tomorrow.

With Gratitude,

CCLA’s 2nd Annual Pro Bono Reception is THIS THURSDAY

and there is still time to reserve your place!

We invite South Florida's legal community to join us this Thursday, October 8th from 5:30pm-7:30pm as we honor the individuals, law firms, and community partners whose extraordinary pro bono service helps keep justice within reach for our most vulnerable neighbors.

This year, we are proud to recognize:

Caran Rothchild, Esq. of Greenberg Traurig, LLP

(Chairperson’s Award)

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC [Howard Cohen, Esq. and Adele Stone, Esq.]

(Law Firm of the Year)

Jessica Kerr, Esq., The Advocacy Group

(Attorney of the Year)

Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association

(Commitment to Justice Award)

Thanks to the generous hospitality of Ocean Bank, attendance and parking are complimentary.

Space is limited, so please reserve your spot today at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/CCLAProBonoReception26.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month remind us that safety, dignity, and well-being are deeply connected. For someone experiencing abuse, the effects can reach far beyond physical harm—creating fear, isolation, financial instability, and lasting emotional trauma.

At Coast to Coast Legal Aid, we see how legal advocacy can be a critical first step toward healing and stability. Whether helping a survivor seek protection, secure safe housing, or navigate family law matters, our attorneys stand beside people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Because when someone feels trapped, having someone in their corner can make all the difference. Access to justice can open a door to safety, hope, and a path forward.

Stories of Justice: From Fear to a Path Forward

For nearly nine years, Joan—a senior living with serious medical conditions—had called the same house her home. She contributed financially, cared for the residence, and built her life there with her domestic partner. But behind closed doors, she endured years of domestic violence and emotional abuse. With limited income and no close family nearby, she had nowhere else to turn.

After a domestic violence incident led to her partner’s arrest and a no-contact order, her partner filed an unlawful detainer action, claiming she was merely an unauthorized guest with no right to remain in the home. In an instant, the place she had known as home was at risk of being taken away. Already coping with serious health challenges and the trauma of domestic abuse, she faced the terrifying possibility of homelessness. When she came to Coast to Coast Legal Aid, she was frightened and overwhelmed. 

Event Recap: Candid Conversations

This year's Second Annual Candid Conversations brought women attorneys together for an open and timely discussion on leadership, advancement and equity in the legal profession.

Moderated by Beth Feder, Partner at Winston Law Firm, the panel featured Abbe Rifkin of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; Alison Smith, Partner at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman; Komal Mirza of the Broward Sheriff’s Office; Caran Rothchild, Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig; and Cherine Smith Valbrun, Partner at Kim Vaughan Lerner.

Panelists addressed pay equity, origination credit, partnership and power dynamics, mentorship versus sponsorship, and the pressures surrounding ambition and leadership.

Dean Olympia Duhart and Professor Jane Cross of NSU Shepard Broad College of Law added their perspectives on the future of women in the law and the role legal education plays in preparing the next generation of leaders.

The discussion also explored the unspoken rules that can influence career advancement and the importance of creating meaningful pathways to leadership—leaving attendees with candid insights and a renewed perspective on how women can shape the future of the legal profession.

Pro Bono Week: Serving Justice. Strengthening Democracy.

This year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono theme, Serving Justice. Strengthening Democracy., underscores a fundamental truth: access to justice is essential to a healthy democracy.

Through our Pro Bono Reimagined initiative, Coast to Coast Legal Aid is creating new pathways for attorneys to put their skills and experience to work—expanding access to justice while making pro bono service more flexible, meaningful, and responsive to the realities of today’s legal profession.

This Pro Bono Week (Oct.25-31), we'll be sharing all the ways pro bono work impacts our communities along with exciting opportunities for you to get involved. Visit https://www.coasttocoastlegalaid.org/get-involved/pro-bono/ today to learn more!

CCLA In The Community

This past month, Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) remained deeply engaged through events, presentations, awareness activities, and partnerships that further our mission of access to justice and support for vulnerable populations.

Just Say No to Scams: Protecting Our Community from Fraud

Scams can devastate lives—especially when they target older adults and other vulnerable consumers. At Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, we are committed to giving our community the knowledge and tools to recognize fraud, protect their rights, and take action when they are targeted.

At our Just Say No to Scams Workshop, participants learned practical strategies for preventing scams, recognizing elder fraud, protecting themselves from consumer scams, and accessing resources when fraud occurs.

The program featured an insightful presentation by Dr. Jennifer Lawrence on romance scam recovery and an informative session with an FBI Special Agent on preventing and reporting elder fraud. Coast to Coast Legal Aid, provided consumer scam prevention training, sharing practical tools and resources to help participants recognize, avoid, and respond to scams.

Through education, advocacy, and legal support, CCLA continues to stand with seniors and consumers—helping protect not only their finances, but their independence, security, and peace of mind.

CCLA & Broward County Property Appraiser Partner to Fight Deed Fraud

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida joined Marty Kiar, Broward County Property Appraiser, and the BCPA Crimes Against Property Team to sign a partnership agreement focused on protecting Broward County seniors affected by deed fraud.

During the meeting, we discussed strategies for using civil legal tools to protect homeowners and strengthening collaboration to identify potential fraud early—before vulnerable seniors risk losing their homes.

By bringing together our resources and expertise, we can respond more effectively to deed fraud and strengthen protections for Broward’s senior homeowners. We are grateful to Marty Kiar and his team for their partnership and look forward to the work ahead.

This collaboration is another important step in CCLA’s commitment to advancing access to justice and protecting the rights, homes, and security of vulnerable residents throughout South Florida.

Bringing Access and Resources Directly to Seniors

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida’s Senior Law Unit visited B’nai B’rith Deerfield Apartments, an affordable housing community serving low-income seniors, to connect residents with vital information about SNAP/Food Stamps and other public benefits.

For many older adults, access to benefits can mean the difference between struggling to make ends meet and having the resources needed to live with greater stability and dignity. CCLA brings legal information and advocacy directly into the communities where seniors live—making it easier to understand their rights, access critical resources, and navigate complex systems.

Community outreach like this is an essential part of our mission: bringing access to justice closer to home for South Florida’s most vulnerable residents.

Advancing Justice Through Collaboration

CCLA is honored to be part of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Social Justice Taskforce Cohort 2026–2028.

The Taskforce convenes a diverse network of community partners to examine pressing issues facing Broward County, exchange perspectives, and strengthen collaboration between the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the communities it serves.

For Coast to Coast Legal Aid, these conversations are an important opportunity to share our perspective, learn from other organizations, and explore meaningful ways to expand access to resources and services for those who need them most.

We look forward to contributing to this ongoing dialogue and building partnerships that advance understanding, strengthen collaboration, and create more responsive pathways to justice and opportunity.

Shared purpose. Meaningful dialogue. Stronger partnerships.

LEGAL LEARNING WITH CCLA

Legal Learning reflects Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida's commitment to empowering the community through education. This ongoing series brings together legal professionals and community partners to provide timely, practical information on issues that affect the daily lives of the individuals and families we serve. By increasing knowledge and awareness, these conversations equip viewers with the tools they need to protect their rights, access resources, and make informed decisions.

• Legal Learning - learn some basics about a legal topic in less than one hour.
• Fridays With Friends - CCLA introduces viewers to other organizations and services available as resources in our community.
• Legal Clinic - offers a more in depth look at a legal issue.

CCLA staff are experts in their field and recognize the importance of being on the cutting edge of issues that impact our clients and community. As an integral part of this community, we look forward to engaging with all community members and providers throughout the year.

If you would like CCLA to attend an event, conduct an outreach, or you have a topic you'd like us to address in an episode of Legal Learning on CCLA's Facebook page and YouTube channel, please contact us at: CCLAInfo@cclasfl.org.

Check out our Community Outreach page.

CCLA Services